Joe Montana talking about Brett Favre breaking Dan Marino’s record for most career NFL touchdowns: “I honestly thought Danny’s records might never be broken. What Brett has done is a tremendous accomplishment. Congratulations you old fart!!!”
Terry Bradshaw also talking about Favre: “Brett Favre is the best I have ever seen. And I’ve never said that about anybody. He’s simply the best. He’s got the strongest arm, athleticism, field presence, leadership, poise and tenaciousness. He plays hurt, he’s fun, he’s infectious. He has everything I want to see including the game-time decisions, the strengths, and all the ingredients.”
Timberwolves president Chris Wright said the team could probably sell 60,000 tickets for the one Boston Celtics-Kevin Garnett game here on February 8. Wright expects that through full and partial season tickets the game will sellout in advance (no single game tickets available). Tickets for single games go on sale Saturday, October 13.
Wright said security precautions by the NBA have been extensive for the team’s visit to Turkey, a nation that has had terrorist attacks. The Wolves are in Turkey this week for the early days of training camp, visiting a country that shares a border with Iraq. NBA commissioner David Stern will attend the Timberwolves exhibition game against a Turkish team in Istanbul on Saturday and also on Wednesday, October 10 in London against the Boston. Wolves owner Glen Taylor will be on the trip with his wife Becky.
Minnesota’s version of “Midnight Madness” will be “Tubby’s Tiipoff” beginning at 9 p.m. on Friday, October 12 at Williams Arena. The event will celebrate the start of the Tubby Smith coaching era. Activities will include a three-point slam dunk contest and scrimmage. Admission is free and the building opens at 8:45 p.m.
A former Big Ten Conference assistant coach who asked for anonymity predicts the Gopher basketball team will finish among the top five schools in the Big Ten Conference.
Tom Sakal, captain of the 1967 Gopher Big Ten championship team, was in town last week for 40 year reunion activities and said all 22 starters earned college degrees. Many of the players, including Pro Football Hall of Famer Charlie Sanders, played professional football.
Hockey fans can enjoy some memories today by attending a book signing for Minnesota North Stars: History And Memories With Lou Nanne from 4 to 7 p.m. at Barnes & Noble, 801 Nicollet Mall. Nanne and local author Bob Showers collaborated on the book that is a celebration of the Minnesota North Stars’ 40th anniversary. Among the North Stars celebrities expected to attend the book signing event are Al Shaver, Glen Sonmor, Brian Bellows, J.P. Parise, Brian Lawton, Pete LoPresti, Tim Young, and Don Beaupre. For more information on the 272-page coffee table size book visit www.northstarshistory.com.